FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

FES is a technique used to produce contractions in paralysed muscles by the application of electrical impulses to stimulate the nerves that supply the paralysed muscle.  The movement is controlled in such a way as to produce useful function.

FES is particularly useful in the correction of Dropped Foot.

Dropped Foot is the inability to life the foot when walking due to weakness or paralysis of the muscles involved in lifting the foot.  As a result the toes catch on the floor when the leg is swung through when walking.

For FES to work both the nerve and the muscle must be undamaged.  FES is therefore helpful for use in conditions such as Stroke, MS, Spinal Cord Injury (T12 and above), Parkinson's Disease, Cerebral Palsy and Head Injury. 

Note: FES is not suitable for lower motor lesions such as Motor Neurone Disease, Peripheral Nerve Palsy, Polio and Guillan-Barre Syndrome.